Marie Purvis, Nike Global Master Trainer

1. Where are you from and where do you currently call home?I am from Denver, CO and I call Portland, OR home today.

2. How did you get started in your sport and when did you realize you wanted to pursue it professionally?I got started in my sport in college, when I wanted to empower young girls through the lens of training and sport. I knew that I wanted to do this as my profession when I saw what my motivation, inspiration and the ability to connect with people was working. When my clients and athletes were reaching the goals they set out to do when they followed my training programs.

3. What is the biggest setback you’ve suffered as an athlete?When I was running track I was your typical overuse injury athlete. It was because I was not training properly and not taking care of my body the way all athletes should. This was my number one driver for getting into the training industry. I wanted to provide holistic training for all my athletes. Dealing with overuse injuries is one of the most frustrating hurdle to overcome as an athlete because the only thing that helps is time and not doing what caused the injury in the first place. This is one of most frustrating thing an athlete who is competing can hear.

4. Best piece of advice from women starting out in your sport?The best piece of advice would be going into this industry with an open mind, patience, and understanding. All athletes are very different and have different formulas that will get them to their goals. Also learn how to evolve with your training. Always continued to learn and learn from your peers. Stay humbled and work hard.

5. What’s the biggest misconception people have about being a female athlete?This is a man’s world, and even more so in the fitness industry. The biggest misconception is that female athletes aren’t as competitive, or hard working, that we don’t want to win as much as the man standing next to you. I argue that female athletes are all this and more.

6. Whom in your sport do you admire the most and why?I admire Mark McGuiness because he is a true representation of leadership and Carmelita Jeter because she is a true representation of persistence and drive. She has more personal drive and ambition than any one I know.

9. Favorite workout or workout tip?Moderation is key to success. Try not to deny yourself of the things you truly love, just have it in moderation.

10. We define “The Wonder” as the state of reaching the truly extraordinary—the achievements that most people, including you at one point, could not fathom. What is your Wonder and what has it taken—or what will it take—to reach it?My “Wonder” was Nike + Training Club. I never in a million years thought that I would be able to reach, connect, and inspire millions of people around the world and through this training program that I helped develop I have been able to do just that.It took hard work, and believing in my vision, learning from all the mistakes I made along the way and being patient and trusting that if you are doing the right thing everything will work out.I have learned so much in the last 14 years of being a trainer and it truly has shaped who I am today and how I tackle life.